Democrats choose three candidates to replace Rep. Chris Garrett

County boards have until Feb. 6 to vote

County commissioners will choose from a slate of three candidates to replace former state Rep. Chris Garrett, who resigned in late December to become a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Democratic party leaders advanced nominees Wednesday night at a meeting in Lake Oswego. Their choices include former Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Lininger, of Lake Oswego, general counsel and a vice president at the manufacturing company Oregon Iron Works; attorney and lobbyist Sonya Fischer, whose law office is in downtown Lake Oswego; and Southwest Portland neighborhood activist Moses Ross, founder of a political telemarketing service for the Democratic Party.

Garrett represented House District 38, which includes Lake Oswego and Southwest Portland. Because the district reaches into two counties, the Clackamas and Multnomah boards of commissioners will jointly choose a replacement.

Commissioners votes will be weighted based on how much of the district is within their counties.

The Democratic precinct committee members who chose the nominees ranked their choices in a recommended order with Lininger listed first, followed by Fischer and then Ross.

Under state law, county leaders now have until Feb. 6 to vote on a replacement, who will serve the remainder of Garretts term through the end of this year. If commissioners dont meet the deadline, the governor could choose Garretts successor.

Kara Hansen can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 503-636-1281, ext. 107. Follow her on Twitter, @LOreporter.